Sound-producing device or voice for dolls and the like



Sept. 10, 1929. J, GRUBMAN SOUND PRODUCING DEVIGE OR VOICE FOR DOLLS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 1 1925 m/\ y 1 U// WY 9 a w M f |l1l 1 1 2 a n0 5 1 u 1 a i m i E a m m HHHWM i W) W mm m mflm M .M 1 m Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

warren stares Parana OFFICE.

LEO J. enUBMAn, or BELLE nannoniivnw YonK,

SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICE OR VOICE FOB DOLLS AHD THE LIKE.

Application filed September to interrupt the emission of the sound through an orifice are now well known in the art. While such devices of recent domestic origin have been found highly satisfactory and have been used in enormous quantities by the doll and toy industry, they have heretofore beenof such construction that the costs of manufacture were comparatively high. It is one of the prominent objects of my present improvements to provide asound emission controlling or articulating means for such voice devices whereby manufacturing costs may be appreciably reduced while at the same time the articulating qualities of the voice will in no wise an be impaired. To this end, I provide a central guide post for the movable head of the air expelling bellows together with a normally open valve carried by said head and associated with the sound emission orifice in the wall thereof. The post is provided with spaced means which. cooperates with the valve and holds the samein a more or less closed position relative to the orifice to thereby interrupt or impede the passage of '40 sound through the emission orifice at spaced intervals in the descent orcollapsing movement of the bellows head.

It is another object of my present improvements to provide in a simple and practical embodiment of the invention, magnetic means influencing the valve member to hold the same in a closed position relative to the emission orifice, said valve being so aranged relative to the bellows headthat after the valve passes beyond the range of in- 1, 1925. Serial No. 53,779.

fluence of the magnetic means, it will have a limited gravitymovement independent of the bellows 'headto its open position.

In a specific embodiment of the invention as. herein shown, I provide the'central guide post for the movablebellows head with vertically spaced magnetized areas which are adapted to successively attract a valve element in the form of a soft iron Washer which slides upon said post with the bellows head and hold said washer in closed positions during predetermined intervals of movement of the bellows head whereby the emission of sound produced in the descent or collapse oi" the bellows head will be properly articulated.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists'in the improved sound producing device or voice, and in, the form, construction and relative arrangement of its several parts as willbe hereinafter more fully' described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims. I i

In the drawings, wherein I have illustrated several simple and practical forms of my present improvements, andin which similar I reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a sound producing device or voice showing one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1; I Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 showing. theweighty bellows head at an intermediate point of its collapsing movetaken on the of the device which is now well known in the art and consists essentially in an outer shell or casing 5 of cardboard tubing or other suitable material closed at its opposite ends by means of sheet metal heads 6 and 7 respectively. the operative parts of thefdevice are enclosed. I have herein shown a familiar means for expelling air under pressure through a suitable sounding reed comprising the usual tubular fiexible'be'llows wall 8 having one of its end edges turned around one end edge or the casing wall 5 and fixedly clamped thereto by means of the metal cap or head 6. The other end edge of this flexible bellows wall has an air tight connection with a gravity movable air expelling head i). In the present instance, I have shown this air expelling head'asconsisting of an outer cup-shaped section 10 and an inner section ll telescopically fitted within said outer section, said inner section having a short marginal flange 12 between which and the flange of the outer section 10, the end ed e of the flexible bellows wall is friction-ally clamped. Theintermediate body walls oi": the two head sections 10 and 11 I are spaced apart to provide therebetween a sound receiving chamber 1 3. The wall of the bellows head section 11 is provided with a. suitable sounding reed indicated at 14 through which the air is expelled under pressure from the interior-f the bellows and is emitted in the iorm of sound waves into the chamber 13. The specific form of the bellows head as just described and the reed construction shown in the drawing are not'herein claimed, since such subject matter is fully disclosed and claimed in a. co-pending application for. patent filed by me on May 9, 1925, Serial No. 29,005, and it will become apparent as this description pro- 'ceeds'that in so far as the novel features of the present disclosure are concerned. the sounding reed might be of any conventional construction and that various other means might be employed tor the purpose of expelling air under: pressure through such a reed. V V

' In theembodiment of the device as illus trated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, I pro-' vide a central axially positioned guidepost 15 for the weighty gravity movable bellows head, the two sections 10 and 11 of said head being centrally provided with suitable openings therein snugly receiving the post '15 but permitting of the free sliding movementof said head along the post. Adjacent to this post, the wall of the head section 10 is provided with one or more sound emis-' si'on evenings 16 through which the sound 1 c is emitted from chamber 13 into the end of the'c asing exterior "or" the bellows and from which it finally passes through openings 17 provided in the cap or closure head Within the casing 5 all of,

. closed position.

7 on the end of the casing o.

The opposite heads 6 and 7 in any approved manner. Preferably, this post is in the form of a solid steel rod and as clearly shown in Fig. 4:, one end portion of this post is provided at longitudinally spaced points with magnetized areas designated 18 and 19 respectively, and having the north and south poles at each magnetized area located at diametrically opposite points on the periphery of said post so, that the magnetic flux passes transversely through the post between said poles. I

Between the two sections and 11 of the bellows head a valve disc 20 loosely surrounds said post, said valve disc being of suchsize or diameter as to overlie the emission opening or openings 16 when in its This valve disc is in the form of a soft iron washer and is instantly responsive to the influence of the magnetized areas 18 and 19 of the guide post. Preferably, although not necessarily, I provide the upper side of this washer opposed to the wall of the head section 10 at'the inner portion thereof with a raised annular rib or boss indicated at 21 so that when the washer is in closed position there will be a slight clearance between the face of the washer and the inner end of the emission opening or openings 16. However, if desired in lieu o'l this spacing rib 21 on the washer I may provide the wall of the head section 10 with a small orifice as indicated in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

In the operation of the voice device above described, assuming that the device has first been held in the proper position to cause the distention of the bellows under the gravity movement of the head 9 in one direction along the post and that the device is then inverted to the position shown in Fig. 1, it will be noted that the washer or valve disc is opposed to the magnetized area 18 nearest the end of the postand that therefore, said washer being subject to the influence of the electromagnetic currents will be sustained against a gravity movement on the-post independently of the bellows head between the two sections 10 and 11 ofsaid head so that the sound emission opening or openings 16 are substantially closed. Thus, as the bellows head descends by gravity along the post the valve Washer 20 is retained in this position relative to the emis the air from the chamber through the reed 14 passes in restricted volume from the chamber 13 between the upper face of the washer plate and the wall of the head section 10, and hence through the emission openings 16 and finally through the openings 17 in the end head of the casing. This initial restricted emission of sound simulates the letter m. As the bellows head in its continued descent, moves the valve disc or washer 20 below the magnetized area 18 of the post so that said washer is no longer subject to the influence of the electromagnetic currents, the valve washer drops by gravity independently of the bellows head along the guide post 15 to a position of rest upon the lower head section 11, thus fully opening communication between the chamber 13 and the emission openings 16 so that the sound may pass from said chamber in maximum volume through said emission openings and thereby simulate the pronunciation of the letter a, thus completing the first syllable ma. The sound of the letter a continues during the interval of movement of the bellows head between the two magnetized areas of the post as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and until the valve washer 20 is opposed to the north and south poles of the second magnetized area 19 of the post. Said washer is then held by the electromagnetic influence in a stationary position relative to the bellows head so that in the continued descent of the head the valve washer will again assume the closed position shown in Fig. 1 relative to the emission openings 16. Thus the letter m is again sounded until the valve washer is moved by the bellows head below the area of electromagnetic influence when it again drops by gravity independently of the head to the open position shown in Fig. 3 and during the remainder of the descent of the weighty bellows head the letter a will be sounded, thus completing the infant cry ma-ma, which will thus be realistically simulated.

In so far as I am aware I believe that I am the first in the art to provide in a device of this kind a magnetically controlled valve means for efiecting the articulation of the sound. It will be seen that in such a de vice, the necessity of producing special tools, more or less expensive dies, and difficult machining operations are obviated, and that the cost of production of such device will therefore, be correspondingly reduced. Nevertheless, it will be appreciated that a device of this construction will be positive and reliable in its operation so that notwithstanding rough usage orabuse of the article within which the device is'incorporated, the proper articulation of the sound is assured. The guide post, the valve and parts of the weighty bellows head are all of substantial and rugged construction so that .there is practically no liability that due to distortion or displacement, they will fail to properly function at all times.

In Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, I have illustrated an alternative form of the device wherein instead of providing the valve member in the form of a soft iron washer or disc, this valve member 20 is in the form of a sheet metal stamping preferably of spring steel and includes a central disc provided with a plurality of radially disposedresilient arms 22. The extremities of these arms are adapted to bear against the inner surface of the section 10 of the bellows head when the valve is in its closed position. In this case, the valve disc 21 completely closes the sound emission openings .16, and therefore, the wall of the head section 10 is provided with a small diameter orifice 23 through which the sound may escape from chamber 13 in restricted volume to simulate the sound of the letter In. In this construction, the central guide post for the movable bellows head is provided with the same spaced magnetized areas as above referred to. As shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the device has just been returned to an upright position after distending the bellows and the bellows head has moved downwardly slightly until the Valve disc which is held stationary. by the first magnetized area on the post is engaged by the inner face of the wall of the head section 10. The spring arms 22 are placed under a slight tension which however, is insuflicient to cause a movement of the valve disc 21 on the magnetized area of the post with relation to the wall of the bellows head. The emission openings 16 are thus completely closed and during the first part of the descent of the bellows head while the valve disc is subject to the magnetic influence of the first magnetized area of the post, the sound is emitted in small volume through the orifice 23. Thereafter, the operation is substantially the same as that formerly described in connection with Fig. 1 of the drawings and the two word syllables ma-ma are successively sounded. It will be understood that the interval of time elapsing between the sounding of the two syllables may be increased or decreased by the proper spacing of the two magnetized areas 18 and 19 of the post, as may be desired.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction, manner of operation and several advantages of my present improvements'will be clearly and fully understood. It will be seen that I have succeeded in devising a sound controlling or articulating means for such voice devices which is exceedingly simple in its construction. not liable to get out of order and high 1y eflicient in the performance of its functions. While I have herein disclosed several simple and practical embodiments of the device, it will nevertheless, be understood that the essential features of my present improvements mightalso be embodied in various other alternative structures, and I accordingly reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a sound producing device for dolls and the like, an air chamber and a movable member constituting one end of said air chamber havingspaced walls providing a s and receiving chamber, a sounding reed in communication with said chamber operated by the passage of air in the movement oi": said member in one direction, one of said wallshaving a sound emission, opening, and valve means for said opening includin a valve element within said sound receiving chamber unattached to the chamber walls and means co-acting with saidv valve element. in one operative movement of said member to cause an independent movement of said valve element and member, eachwith relation to the other in a direction parallel to the path of movement of said member to control the passage or" sound through said opening.

2. In a'sound producing device for dolls and the like, an air chamber and a movable member constituting one end of said air chamber having spaced walls providing a sound receiving chamber, a sounding reed in communication with said chambers operated by the passage of air in the movement of said member in one direction, one of said walls having a sound emission opening, and valvemeans for said opening including a valve element within said sound receiving chamber and supported in a normal position upon one of said walls in spaced relation to said opening to permit of the unimpeded passage of sound theret-hrough, and means for moving the valve element from such normal position and retaining the same in emission impeding relationto said opening during a part of the movement of said member.

3. In a sound producing device for dolls and the like, an air chamber and a movable member constituting one end of said air chamber having spaced walls providing a sound receiving chamber, a sounding reed in communication with said chambers operated by the passage of air in the movement of said member in one direction, one of said walls having a sound emission opening, and valve meansfor. said opening including a valve element within said sound receiving chamber movablein a direction parallel to the path of movement of said member, said valve elementbeing normally supported by one of said walls in non-impeding relation to the emission opening to permit or" the free. passage of sound therethrough, and means repeatedly acting upon said valve element in the movement of said member in one direction to cause said valve element at spaced intervals of such movement of said member to assume a position in close relationship. to said opening and impede the passage of sound therethrough.

a. In a sound producing device for. dolls and the like, a casing having an air chamber therein, a. sounding reed and a weighty head reciprocating in said casing to expel air from said chamber through the reed, a post extending through said weighty head, said head having a sound emission opening in the wall thereof, a valve element slidingly mounted on the post and movable by gravity thereon independently of the weighty head to an open position with respect to the sound emission opening, and said post having loiwitudinally spaced means successively cooperating with the valve element to hold the same in a stationary position relative to the weighty head to thereby interrupt the passage of sound through said sound emission opening.

5. Ina sound pnoducing device for dolls and the like, a sounding reed, means for forcing air under pressure through said reed, a movable valve member for articulating the sound produced by said reed, and a guide for said valve provided with a magnet controlling the operation of the valve.

6. Ina sound producing device for dolls and the like, a sounding reed, means for forcing air under pressure through said reed, valve means for articulating the sound produced by said reed, and magnetic means controlling the operation of said valve means.

7 In a sound producing device for dolls andthe like, an air chamber and a gravity movable weighty member for expelling air under pressure from said chamber, a sounding reed through which the air is expelled, a fixed post guiding said air expelling member, valve means carried by said weighty member and movable therewith along the post, and spaced magnetic means on said post controlling the operation of said valve means to articulate the emission of sound produced by said reed.

8. In a sound producing device for dolls and the like, an air chamber and a weighty gravity movable member forexpelling air from said chamber under pressure, a sounding reed through which the air is expelled, a guide "post for said member, said member having a sound emission opening, a valve associated with said opening surrounding the post and movable by gravity thereon independently of said member to an open position, and longitudinally spaced means on said post successively cooperating with said valve in the air expelling movement of said member to retain the valve in a closed posi tion for movement as a unit with the air expelling member and thereby articulate the emission of sound through said opening.

9. In a sound producing device for dolls and the like, an air chamber and a weighty gravity movable member for expelling air from said chamber under pressure, a sounding reed through which the air is expelled, a guide post for said member, said member having a sound emission opening, a valve disc associated with said opening surrounding the post and movable by gravity there on to an open position, said guide post having longitudinally spaced magnetized areas successively influencing the valve disc to hold the same stationary relative to the air expelling member and in a closed position with respect to the emission opening to thereby articulate the emission of sound through said opening.

10. In a sound producing device for dolls and the like, an air chamber and a weighty gravity movable member for expelling air from said chamber under pressure, a sounding reed through which the air is expelled, a sound receiving chamber having a sound emission opening, a valve associated with said opening and movable relative to said opening to an open position, and means operative at spaced intervals in the air expelling movement of said member to magnetically hold the valve in a stationary position relative to the sound emission opening to thereby articulate the passage of sound through said openin 11. In a sound producing device for dolls and the like, an air chamber, a gravity movable member for expelling air under pressure from said chamber, a sounding reed through which the air is expelled, said memher having a sound receiving chamber, a fixed guide post for said member, one wall of said chamber having a sound emission opening therein, a valve disc surrounding said post and movable by gravity thereon independently of the air expelling member to an open position with respect to said sound emission opening, and said guide post having longitudinally spaced magnetized areas successively influencing said valve disc in the air expelling movement of said-member to retain the disc in a closed position against gravity movement independently of said member and thereby articulate the emission of the sound through said opening.

12. In a sounding device for dolls and the like, an air chamber and a gravity movable weighty member for expelling air under pressure from said chamber, a sounding reed through which the air is expelled, valve means for articulating the sound produced by said reed, a post disposed in parallel relation to the direction of movement of said weighty member, and spaced magnetic means on said post controlling the operation of said valve means.

13. In a sound producing device for dolls and the like, an air chamber and a'gravity movable weighty member for expelling air under pressure from said chamber, a sounding reed through which the air is expelled, a post disposed in parallel relation to the direction of movement of said weighty member and with respect to which said member moves, valve means carried by said weighty member for articulating the sound produced by said reed, and said post having spaced magnetized areas controlling the operation of said valve means.

14:. In a sound producing device for dolls and the like, an air chamber and a gravity movable weighty member for expelling air under pressure from said chamber, valve means for articulating the sound produced by said reed carried by said weighty member, and a post extending through said weighty member and provided with a magnetized area controlling the operation of said valve means.

15. In a sound producing device for dolls and the like, an airchamber and a weighty gravity movable member for expelling air under pressure from said chamber, a sounding reed through which the air is expelled, a post extending through said weighty member, valve means carried by said member for articulating the sound produced by said reed, and said post having longitudinally spaced magnetized areas controlling the operation of said valve means.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed name hereto.

LEO J. GRUBMAN. 

